Methods and apparatus for biological treatment of aqueous waste

Abstract

A biofilter system of the present invention utilizes an Alternating-Aerobic-Anoxic (AAA) process in a single reactor to provide efficient and cheap removal of carbonaceous materials, nitrogenous materials, and/or mixtures thereof from aqueous waste. The biofilter system of the present invention is particularly suitable for treating aqueous waste from aquaculture, industrial processes and animal husbandry. The biofilter system includes: a main biofilter chamber containing therein aerobic and anaerobic bacteria without physical separation; an inlet port and an outlet port connected to the main biofilter chamber; and a means for oxygenating the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in the main biofilter chamber, including means for timing the oxygenation of the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to provide alternating periods of high-oxygen conditions and anoxic conditions.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An aquaculture system comprising: 
       (a) an aqueous environment;  
       (b) a means for fluidly connecting said aqueous environment with a biofilter system, said biofilter system comprising:  
       (i) a main biofilter chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port and containing therein aerobic and anaerobic bacteria without physical separation; and  
       (ii) a means for oxygenating said aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in said main biofilter chamber, including means for timing the oxygenation of said aerobic and anaerobic bacteria;  
       (c) a means for disinfecting an outflow of said biofilter system; and  
       (d) a means for returning said disinfected outflow to said aqueous environment.  
     
     
       2. The aquaculture system of  claim 1 , wherein said aquaculture system further comprises a pump. 
     
     
       3. The aquaculture system of  claim 1 , wherein said aquaculture system further comprises a means for filtering an outflow from said aqueous environment. 
     
     
       4. The aquaculture system of  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous environment is a tank. 
     
     
       5. The aquaculture system of  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous environment is a natural or a man-made pond. 
     
     
       6. The aquaculture system of  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous environment is a natural or a man-made lake. 
     
     
       7. The aquacultrue system of  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous environment is a cage system on a river, a near-shore area and/or a fjord. 
     
     
       8. A method of aquaculture, wherein fish are grown in said aqueous environment of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. A system for treating animal waste comprising: 
       (a) a first vessel having a first inlet port and a first outlet port, wherein said first vessel contains means for degrading animal waste solids within said animal waste and means for separating animal waste solids and animal waste liquid; and;  
       (b) a second vessel comprising a biofilter system wherein an inlet port of said biofilter chamber is fluidly connected to said first outlet port of said first vessel, and wherein said biofilter system comprises:  
       (i) a main biofilter chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port and containing therein aerobic and anaerobic bacteria without physical separation; and  
       (ii) a means for oxygenating said aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in said main biofilter chamber, including means for timing the oxygenation of said aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.  
     
     
       10. The system for treating animal waste of  claim 9 , wherein an effluent from said first vessel is aqueous. 
     
     
       11. A method of removing carbonaceous matter, nitrogenous matter, or mixtures thereof from animal waste, comprising passing said animal waste through said system for treating animal waste of  claim 9 . 
     
     
       12. The method for removal of  claim 11 , wherein an amount of said carbonaceous matter, nitrogenous matter, or mixtures thereof in said outflow is reduced by no less than approximately 80% from an original amount of said carbonaceous matter, nitrogenous matter, or mixtures thereof in said liquid portion of said animal waste. 
     
     
       13. The method for removal of  claim 12 , wherein the amount of said carbonaceous matter, nitrogenous matter, or mixtures thereof in said outflow is reduced by no less than approximately 90% from the original amount of said carbonaceous matter, nitrogenous matter, or mixtures thereof in said liquid portion of said animal waste. 
     
     
       14. The method for removal of  claim 11 , wherein said animal waste is produced by any one of a pig, a horse, a goat, a sheep, a cow, a chicken, a turkey, an ostrich, an emu, a llama or an alpaca. 
     
     
       15. The method for removal of  claim 11 , wherein said animal waste comprises no more than approximately 10% solid animal waste. 
     
     
       16. The method for removal of  claim 15 , wherein said animal waste comprises no more than 5% solid animal waste. 
     
     
       17. The method for removal of  claim 16 , wherein said animal waste comprises no more than approximately 1% solid animal waste.